Rising Star Award: Grace Hernandez

(April 19, 2005)--Grace Hernandez, director of the office of institutional diversity, will
be honored with the Rising Star Award, one of five presented April 28 at the UTSA Staff Excellence and Service
Awards ceremony.

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In the first of five award spotlights that will be featured on UTSA Today before the
ceremony, the Rising Star Award recognizes a staff member with less than three years of
continuous service with the university who has made significant contributions to his or her area or to the
university community and has demonstrated improvement through cooperation, initiative and a take-charge
attitude.

Grace Hernandez

Rising Star Award winner

Grace Hernandez has worked in the Office of Institutional Diversity since 2003. She began as assistant director
and advanced to her present position as director.

In a position that is difficult and stressful, Hernandez' vision, objectivity and determination have helped
her do her job without hesitation. She is known as a problem solver by senior administrators, faculty and
students because she is able to find solutions to any conflicts. According to a nominator, Hernandez' leadership
has helped to facilitate the hiring process of new faculty members through innovation, a spirit of
accountability and a healthy dose of common sense.

Hernandez is co-chair of the Affirmative Action and Diversity Committee in which she ensures that the goals
of furthering diversity and creating more opportunities for minorities and women are fulfilled. She represents
the university in external organizations such as the Industrial Liasion Group, the San Antonio Human Resources
Management Association and soon will be a member of the Texas Diversity Council. She has ensured that UTSA
has an affiliate program of the National Coalition Building Institute.

Her great vision, determination, objectivity and personality are illustrated by her work. She is
always willing to help students, faculty members and staff members to find solutions to their
problems. Hernandez is dedicated to working with faculty, staff and administrators to ensure that
UTSA becomes a tier-one institution.

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UTSA employees are invited to attend the event hosted by Guy Bailey, UTSA provost and
executive vice president, Rosalie Ambrosino, UTSA vice president for student affairs, and Richard Lewis, special assistant to the president, at
2:30 p.m., Thursday, April 28, in the University Center Retama Auditorium (2.01.02) on the 1604 Campus. The ceremony will include
remarks by UTSA President Ricardo Romo.

Downtown Campus and Institute of Texan Cultures staff members can attend the event utilizing VIA bus 94 at no
charge by showing their UTSACard.

The ceremony will include retiree recognition, service pin awards for 5-30 years and
refreshments. Thirty-three staff members will be honored on their retirements and 219 staff members will receive
UT System service awards for the 2004 calendar year.

Watch UTSA Today for profiles of the winners of the Leadership Award, Team Spirit Award, Extra Mile
Award and Order of the Roadrunner Award.